Local Happenings

Published as Issue No. 146

March 8, 2016

Going, going, gone: If you haven’t looked down lately on this view of the Houghton Valley Playcentre outdoor space [No attachment] then it’s too late! A working bee over the weekend began demolition. Its replacement – thanks to $20,000 raised locally matched by funding from the NZ Playcentre Federation – will be completed in about three weeks.

Local economy: You can’t get more home grown than local bees gathering local nectar, processing and adding value in Houghton Valley. Jacob of Haewai Meadery and Wind Gardens advises he has harvested 40 kilos of local honey which he will sell in re-cycled jars. He comments “A late season and looks like a good one” Seriously low food miles too!

Yoga Reminder: Yoga for all, suitable for beginners, Houghton Valley Hall $10. 9.30 am Tuesdays, come in for a free trial session. Enquiries Julie.

House to rent: Houghton Bay Rd, across from the park. Two Bedroom plus a small room that could be an office or child’s room; 1.5 bath and fenced garden, fully insulated (including walls), wood burner, and double glazed windows downstairs. Looking for a professional couple or small family. Pets welcome, rent $500 per week. More information contact Jessica.

Notes from Nick: Nick from View Rd, and for many years a stalwart of the Newtown Residents Association, has ideas about a geologically-focussed trip by locals to Upper Hutt, using his front lawn as a community orchard or herb garden and the relationship between residents and Council on walking track development.

Old Man’s Beard: Deborah of View Rd reminds us that if Old Man’s Beard gets into Houghton Bay back sections and reserves it will be almost impossible to stop. It strangles trees and shrubs and can rapidly take over large areas and is showing up more than ever this year, is seeding and about to spread everywhere right now with patches seen near bus stops, on private sections, and in the school grounds.

The solution is to clip the flowers (white, similar to convolvulus) or seed heads, better still remove the patch completely. See information and photos on Weedbusters.org.nz, also the community Facebook page. If neighbours have patches within 10 metres of your boundary contact the Wellington Regional Council to get this removed (unless your neighbours are happy to do so of course).

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 145

22 February, 2016

Rapid Response: Barely had Natasha posted details on our Facebook Group about fire-victim Peter’s needs to furnish his new bed-sit and the community had responded. She wrote “Wow – fast work everyone, we now have everything needed … thanks again, you have been magnificent!”

Buy and Sell Group?: On February 15 in the Houghton Valley and Hornsey Rd Community Facebook Rachel posted “I am thinking of setting up a Facebook buy and sell group for Wellington South area. Would anyone be keen?” This newsletter is also used by local people to exchange ‘local economy’ exchanges, perhaps the two media would complement each other.

NZ First in Hall: Kerry-Anne has begun a new ballet class in the hall on Saturdays, [No attachment] She advises the brand new teaching Curriculum has not been taught before in NZ.

An emerging pattern?: Part of overhanging bank falls onto Hungerford Rd, safety cones installed to divert traffic, council clears away debris, part of overhanging bank falls onto Hungerford Rd, safety cones installed to divert traffic …

Neighbours’ Day 2016:  The Houghton Valley Progressive Association was working towards an event at Te Kawakawa Commons next month but because the draining of the Mt Albert reservoir is in progress, we can’t yet set a date. It is likely to be in April, watch this space.

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 144

8 February, 2016

Cafe de Houghton: The first Saturday coffee morning for this year is this Saturday at 11 am. Come to the community hall for a Houghton Valley special coffee and a game of ping pong (or table tennis if you are feeling really energetic). See you there!

Working where I live: Ella of Hungerford Rd writes “I love this community so much that I would like to find work in the area: dog walker, house cleaner, cooking, care or odd jobs for the elderly, car cleaning, ironing, I can do it all and more! I’m a friendly and capable person keen to meet more people in our community.”

Houghton Valley Progressive Association: HVPA welcomes you all to 2016 and the first meeting for the year in the hall on Sunday, 7 February at 4 pm.  President Ken advises they have three funding grants this year from WCC which will be discussed. He will send out an agenda about a week before, let him know this week of any other items you have.

Neighbours’ Day 2016: this will see a local event in March with fun events and yummy food. Among the activities will be building bee hotels for fellow inhabitants, as well as other useful things from recycled materials. If you have skills or interests in this area, please get in touch so we can make use of your creativity!

Doing well: Natasha reports in our Facebook Group that Peter whose house was badly damaged by fire is doing well and settling back into his much loved hobbies. He has temporary accommodation covered by insurance but will need to find a place to rent – bed sit/studio etc.

Guardians of the Bays: This group, which is opposing the extension to Wellington Airport in our general direction, is geared up for 2016 with a range of activities and initiatives.  There are a number of ways to get up to speed with their activities including Facebook site, twitter account and their blog. For details contact them on guardiansofthebays@gmail.com. Letters to the editor of the Dom-Post are questioning the need to spend $300m on this extension to attract international carriers when Singapore Airlines has just announced it has accepted a Council subsidy and will fly here anyway.

Our Facebook: If you don’t already keep in touch with local events via our Facebook Group there are some interesting new items posted this week.

Local art and artist: Gwil, an artist from View Rd, has just completed his second mural in our community entitled “Chasing your own tail”. Do you know where it is?

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 143

January 13, 2016

Community at heart and at work: This first issue for 2016 is two weeks earlier than planned. It brings people up to speed and the opportunity to get involved with the current work of a number of locals behind the scenes – helping someone in need. Their efforts make a person appreciate our little community tucked away here on the south coast.

Norman

Dave (of everywhere in Houghton Valley) reports: “Many readers of the newsletter are aware that one of our long-term residents of Houghton Valley, Peter Blackwood of Hornsey Road, arrived home recently to find his home destroyed by fire. A faulty fuse may be the cause. You can read an illustrated article about Peter’s situation here.

Many of us are asking how we can best support Peter at the very early stage. Peter’s neighbours have taken the initiative to create a website that enables people to donate money: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/petersetupfund/

Peter is very keen to find short to medium term accommodation in our neighbourhood until the insurance and rebuilding decisions are sorted out. He enjoys an independent life. Please ring Natasha if you have a sleep-out, out-room or flat that he can rent.

Some people have kindly offered to donate furniture and other items. His immediate needs will not be known until he finds short to medium term accommodation. Please ring Dave with the details of how you can be contacted and what you can offer. We will endeavour to keep you informed of what Peter needs as his future becomes clearer.”

Published as Issue No. 142

December 15, 2015

Flying South: It’s a measure of the appreciation of their contribution to the community that three people provided articles to farewell Houghton Valley residents Ruth and Peter Reece from Hornsey Rd, leaving to join family in the South Island. Ruth helped out at the Kae Miller Lodge; Peter will be remembered by many children of the valley for his researching and data collecting of the valley bird life. Both made important contributions to the Kawakawa Commons garden by keeping the vegetable garden tidy and productive; feeding the birds and donating tools.

Each winter for the last six years Peter ‘The Birdman’ has set his mist nets up on the trails in the school forest. It is part of his valuable research of our changing bird population as our valley regenerates its forests. It has also provided hundreds of our children with a unique opportunity to get close to our birds. The joy on their faces as they got to hold and release a bird said it all. At a recent school assembly it was with sadness that students presented him with a farewell tree and a range of cards expressing their appreciation for all he has done. Local people gathered at Ken and Miranda’s home to farewell Ruth and Peter (see photo below, second and third from left).

Locally made Ice cream again this summer: Brian of View Rd is again setting up in competition with Top Top and others, from December 17 to December 23. One dollar a scoop! For what, where, who, how and why, see Houghton Valley Ice Cream Parlour.

Still waiting: Friends of Houghton Valley are still awaiting the outcome of the Judicial Review concerning the multi-housing development in Houghton Bay. On Friday, 4th December an article about saving the natural character of Wellington’s South Coast was published, see http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=84353

Thanks again Brenda: For many years now Brenda, who lives on the corner of Houghton Bay and Hungerford Roads has been decorating her windows for the children kids who come to the playground to enjoy.

Around 25 in 2015: Busy mid December is not the time of the year to talk about new ideas for the newsletter for next year, although possibilities are being discussed. Suffice to say about 25 issues were produced in 2015 and there was always contributions from a range of people. The first in 2016 will be late January.

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 141

November 24, 2015

Last for 2015: The final meeting of the year of the Houghton Valley Progressive Association will be held at the hall at 4 pm on Sunday, 6 December.  An agenda will go out the week before so any items to Ken.

School Fair Proceeds: Organiser Karen advises the (provisional) amount raised is $29,200 and comments: “That should go a long way towards sorting out the playground and getting some new IT Equipment, and the plant stall did exceptionally well this year.”

Coffee morning: The last coffee morning in the Hall for the year is Saturday, December 5. Rumour has it at the last gathering blokes of a certain age spent so much time playing table tennis they finished up a net calorie loss even after eating heaps of goodies. Call in after 11 am.

Fundraiser reminder: Wednesday, November 25 – tomorrow. Friends of Houghton Valley have booked one of the LightHouse Cinemas to show the James Bond movie Spectre.  Order tickets through FOHV.

Hall Hire: The hall will not be available for hire from mid-December to mid-January as we need to do some maintenance. The hall will be back in action by 20 January.

Wall wanted: Claudia of Houghton Valley Rd is looking for someone who can build a low concrete retaining wall for holding up plant beds etc.

Another last for 2015: If you have any items, community messages or items to buy/ sell/swap, the final newsletter for the year will be in three weeks and appear on Tuesday, December 15.

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 140

November 10, 2015

Judicial Review Report from Friends of Houghton Valley: On Wednesday, October two members of Friends of Houghton Valley gathered at the Wellington High Court at 10 am, seated in the gallery in Courtroom 2, behind a partition which separated us from the lawyers and Justice Brown …

Art Club Exhibition: Houghton Valley locals Linda Smith and Steve Stevens are among the artists contributing to the Wellington Art Club’s annual exhibition in the Rita Angus Retirement Village in Kilbirnie. It is in the Atrium on Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 November from 10 am to 4 pm, all welcome.

Houghton Valley School Fair: From the team that organised the Houghton Valley School Fair, Karen reports another highly successful event with local and from further afield. Money raised from the community garden stall was $620.00 – which is a record!

“Whatever the financial outcome the day was a lovely community event, with great food, entertainment, and plenty to do for everyone. We were blessed with sunshine, and it really was an excellent day for showing off our school and our valley. Huge thanks to those members of the local community who helped directly, particularly the community garden gang and Andy and Jane who ran the ever popular pottery stall. Thank you also to those people who donated goods, and to all who came and shared the day with us.” – Karen

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 139

October 27, 2015

Houghton Valley School Fair: Saturday October 31, 10 am – 2 pm. The Fair is this weekend! Organiser Karen Parr says a big thank you to those people who have donated goods. “Your help is much appreciated by the school. The Fair will go ahead rain or shine, so please come along. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Community Coffee: Next community coffee morning Saturday, November 7. The Community Hall opens at 11 am for coffee, conversation, table tennis and a copy of Saturday’s paper to read! It’s fast becoming the place for JAHVA’s to be seen. (Just Another Houghton Valley Apparatchik)

Back issues: Back issues of the newsletter are on the Houghton Valley Website.

Norman

Published as Issue No. 138

October 13, 2015

Hands across the Valley: Andrea from View Rd extends a call to ‘arms’ to anyone with basic drawing skills to join in Henna Hands Painting, a community-based Workshop. This ‘Celebrate spring and coming together …’ will be held over successive Sunday afternoons, October 18 and 25 in community Valley Hall. Artist, teacher and parent, Andrea has run the Henna Hands stall at the school fair for the last 8 years wants to pass on this tattoo art tradition from her original Indian teacher to others in the hope of enlisting extra helpers for the fair (!). Mehendi is henna, a plant-based dye mixed to paste then applied to the skin. The curvilinear designs fade quickly over 3 weeks. Mehendi traditionally marks special occasions such as weddings and festivals in the Indian cultural calendar i.e. Diwali (Festival of Light). It is an enjoyable social activity involving shared conversations, very popular at girls and hen parties. Skill develops simply, quickly and intuitively through practice. As a non-profit event, a $2 gold coin donation is required to cover cost of materials.

Houghton Valley School Fair 31 October: A big thank you from organiser Karen Parr for people who have contacted us with donations. They will be accepting donations until October 30, as well as vouchers, crafts, chutneys, jams, baking and other such goodies. Our silent auction will be on-line this year, and bids can be placed anytime from Thursday Oct 15th. [Link not current] Have a look at some of the great offers we have. We are not just on the scrounge though, and more than anything we would love local people just to come along to visit our school and enjoy the Fair with us. The community garden is looking for native plants and/or vegetable seedlings to sell at the fair. If you have any, bring them the garden on a Sunday afternoon, or to the fair on the day.

Wellington Scoop article: Recently Scoop published a comprehensive article about Friends of Houghton Valley’s (FoHV) struggle to overturn WCC’s decision to not notify the resource consent application for 215 Houghton Bay Rd. You will find the article by following this link Protecting the south coast; residents challenge approval for 13 new houses.  Donations towards legal fees: A number of supporters have expressed a desire to help financially. If you would like to support the cause in this way, we are suggesting that donations of $200 will help us reach our goal. Or please feel free to give any amount as you are able. Friends of Houghton Valley (FoHV) can provide a receipt on request. Fundraising: FoHV are fundraising to pay costs for the judicial review of WCC’s decision to not notify the resource consent application for 215 Houghton Bay Rd. On 9 August we had a very successful fund raising concert at the Pines and the next event is a Quiz Fundraiser at Brew’d Bar Island Bay, Thursday 29 October from 7 pm; quiz starts at 7.30 pm. The quiz master is a lot of fun and very entertaining. The quiz lasts about an hour and a half including 5 rounds and an interval. We even have a ‘Buy Answers Jar’ to increase your chances to be in the win. We play in teams of four or five and there is an awesome prize for the winning team to enjoy together; brunch at Fidel’s, 234 Cuba St. Team tickets are $10 per person, totalling $40 or $50 for a 4 or 5 person team.  You can register a team of four or five or you can also register individually, or per couple, and we will organise teams for you. We have a maximum of 60 places. So please get your team together and book. To confirm your place email us.

Houghton Valley Progressive Association: The quarterly meeting of the HVPA was held on Sunday. News from the meeting to follow in a later issue of the newsletter, minutes from the last meeting/AGM are attached. [No attachment] It is interesting to note the Council is currently putting effort into helping similar Associations in our much larger neighbouring suburbs of Island Bay and Kilbirnie while we just keep on keeping on.

Koha Coffee: It was only a matter of time before quality coffee found the valley! The hall has hosted two coffee mornings so far and keep your eyes open for the next offer.  Shaun Peterson kindly donated a Wega espresso machine and Ross, Jan and Ella are providing barista experience. Eric Heycoop at Emporio coffee stepped in when we needed a second filter handle and donated one. So, coffee with table tennis on the side and blues piano if Ella’s in town.

Norman and contributors

Published as Issue No. 137

September 29, 2015

As Spring arrives Houghton Valley emerges from hibernation, this issues reads like a ‘What’s On’ diary.

Koffie by Koha: Join locals for Coffee this Saturday at Community Hall 11 am to 12 midday. General agreement last time was the coffee and baristas were the best in Houghton Bay (to be fair the only coffee in Houghton Bay!)  Bring spare change for a real treat. This time, as well as the table tennis table, there will be a swap and share table, so small items like a book or veggies to be either swapped or shared would be great.

Book exchange: There is the beginning of a book exchange set up in the hall foyer. If you have any you would like to donate to the library, bring them along on Saturday.

Singing Group: The Wednesday night Singing Group got off to a soaring start with six people turning up to, well, sing. The group meets again this coming Wednesday, 30 September at 7.30 pm.  All welcome. They will meet every two weeks.  Contact Miranda, the hall coordinator, for more information.

Houghton Valley School Fair, Saturday October 31, 10 am – 2 pm: This year’s school fair promises to be an exciting community event for Houghton Valley. As well as old favourites such as plants, crafts, toys, books, clothes, silent auction and heaps of games and activities, we will have an extended food court, with the addition of Mexican and French food. Look out for some celebrity surprises on stage as well! If anyone has good quality toys, books or clothes to donate we would be very appreciative. Also plants, vouchers or new or top quality goods for our silent auction, handicrafts, preserves, jams and so on are all welcome. This is our major annual fundraiser, and enables us to buy necessary ‘extras’ such as upgrading our playground, investing in new technology and buying sports equipment. Most of all, it is a chance for the school community and the local community to get together and have a lovely day out in our beautiful valley. Please join us. For further details contact Karen.

Houghton valley Progressive Association: Ken advises Manjeet Kaur from the Council has asked for feedback on the naming of the cul-de-sac just above the Hall. The community was originally consulted in April and there were several suggestions which were then subjected to the ‘no duplication’ criteria that are used. Manjeet writes;

“A letter has been sent to the residents to seek their views on the proposed name for the access way. Iwi were asked for their suggestions and they have suggested the name Pari Tai. This Pari Tai speaks of a point on a cliff overlooking a tidal area. This name is not historical but is about connection to place. We have confirmed with the Regional Council that the name Pari Tai could be used as it is not currently being used in the Wellington region. We would appreciate views on the proposal.”

The access way would be called Pari Tai Way. Those who live nearby have also been asked. Ken is happy to collate a reply but you need to get back to him by Saturday night so he can get it to the council meeting.

Next meeting: The next meeting of the Houghton Valley Progressive Association will be at the hall on Sunday, 11 October at 4 pm with a draft agenda to go out a week before to all those interested. Contact Ken.

Fundraiser: The school has produced some nice calico bags to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags, to celebrate our lovely part of the world, and as a fundraiser for the school. They are printed ‘Houghton Valley’ so might appeal to the local community too. They are priced at $5 each, and can be ordered by contacting Joanna.

Norman and contributors